A magnificent mansion sits untouched on a plush four-acre estate in Memphis, Tenn. That was until a family of squatters broke in and decided to make it their home sweet home, reported The Daily Mail.
While the mansion has been empty for 18 months, it's estimated to be valued at $3.2 million and the group of inhabitants refused to leave. The SWAT team arrived on Thursday night and barged through the gate to finally evict them after grandparents of one of the children called in to make a forceful move.
The squatters ringleader identified as Tabitha Gentry was immediately arrested after she tried to drive off with a 13-year-old child in her Jaguar.
The home, which foreclosed in August of 2011, is fully equipped with a theater and swimming pool, and although there was not furniture the utilities were still good for use, reported The Daily Mail.
The squatters called themselves Moorish American Nationals and are claiming the land and home belong to them.
According to the pool cleaner, Daniel Brown, who arrived at the Shady Grove Road estate on Monday, the residents padlocked the gates that had no trespassing signs and a note.
"The signage said the bank cannot own property, and that they had the original deed to the house and that they were taking them to court and there were eight other properties," Brown told WMCTV.com.
When TV crews caught a scene of the home, they found the squatters laughing from the windows. The new residents are also stirring up the upscale neighborhood.
"We'll, I'm stunned really," David Peck told WMCTV.com. "I know the two former owners. And I knew the house was on the market, but I've never heard of anything like this."
The former owners, Richard and April Rice bought the mansion in 2006 for $3.9 million and then the Renasant Bank took ownership in 2011, The Daily Mail reported.
Even while the bank's orders to leave by 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday were largely ignored, the Moors said in an email to The Daily Mail that they believe in "love, truth, peace, freedom and justice."
"We were just really surprised," said Vallie Jo Bell, a concerned neighbor before the SWAT arrived. "I hope they'll get out and maybe find another place to live."
Action News 5 - Memphis, Tennessee
